01. The Sixth Extinction
02. The Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fati
These episodes are really a 2-hour opener rather than two separate episodes, and it is a beautiful television moment on so many levels.
We first see Scully's pursuit of truth in a way which forces her to somehow justify what she sees with what she knows: things which, for her, "deny all logic and reason". In her quest to save Mulder, Scully's scientific reason gives way to an urgency to solve the code left by the aircraft. This is such an important part of Scully's character's growth and development. The limits of science keep moving and broadening, and she along with them.
While in his hospital bed, Mulder has visions of another path, an alternate life. It is one of rest, complacency, normalcy. He sees himself in a life without the X-Files or Scully. Also present is a vision of a boy building things in the sand. A friend of mine believes this boy to be a prophecy of Mulder's seed, but I believe that he is Mulder himself. In the end, we find that the boy is trying to build a spaceship, but he keeps tearing it down again. He finally tells [adult] Mulder, "You were supposed to help me!" At the same time, as the "alternate" Mulder lays dying with the world falling all around, Scully appears to tell him to get up, to fight, to get out of his comfort zone, that he is needed and has a job to do. She is telling him the truth.
Meanwhile, Scully has so much to discover. She does everything in her power, which is not enough. She must go to Diana Fowley. She must pray with Albert Hosteen. In other words, she must look beyond herself to find Mulder and to save him--and her willingness to do so was the key to doing so.
Diana Fowley's decision to help Scully resulted in her death. Scully feels guilty for not having trusted her, which ultimately breaks her down when relaying the news to Mulder. She no longer knows who or what to trust, and she is both physically and emotionally exhausted. It is at this point that Mulder delivers the line. You know the one. If you're confused about the relationship between Mulder and Scully, you're making it too complicated. Leave that part up to them. Here it is, pure and simple:
Mulder: Scully, I was like you once: I didn't know who to trust, and I chose another path, another life, another fate where I found my sister. But even though my world was unrecognizable and upside-down, there was one thing that remained the same: you were my friend, and you told me the truth. Even when the world was falling apart, you were my constant, my touchstone.
Scully: And you are mine.
After this, Mulder again visualizes the boy, this time rebuilding the spaceship together with him. The rebuilding has begun.
*This is my all-time favorite episode.* --Lori
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